Within the past four weeks, severe weather conditions have led to canceled or delayed flights, weather warnings, fatalities, and road closures around the United States. As western storms bring floods and snow, parts of the central United States have a different forecast. The possibility of high winds can damage power lines, as well as rain in the Phoenix area, leading to hazardous driving conditions. This severe weather impacting the West Coast is driven by an atmospheric river, which is a sky-born plume of moisture from the Pacific Ocean.

Residents from Western Washington to Southern California have been affected by flash-flood warnings, with snow and rainfall on Christmas Eve through Christmas night. Flooding in California proved deadly after two people were killed when their vehicle was fully submerged in a flooded underpass in Millbrae. First responders were able to rescue two people who climbed on top of a car but were unable to reach the fully submerged vehicle. Javier Acosta of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office stated. Evacuation orders were issued on December 25th. in Orange County, CA, due to possible mudslides and debris. The orders came as the Orange County Fire reported a mudslide Thursday evening. No injuries were reported at this time in the incident, and evacuation orders were lifted the following day. 

On Sunday, Dec 26, 2021, the National Weather Service issued a Special Weather Statement (Snow Squall Warning) for West Central Mountains, Lower Treasure Valley, Boise Mountains, Western Magic Valley, Camas Prairie, Southern Twin Falls County, Harney County, Baker County, and Malheur County. Including the cities of McCall, Cascade, Nampa, Caldwell, Idaho City, Lowman, Garden Valley, Pine, Boise, Mountain Home, Grasmere, Riddle, Murphy Hot Springs, Twin Falls, Jerome, Fairfield, Silver City, Hollister, Rogerson, Council, Cambridge, Midvale, Buchanan, Burns, Crane, Dunnean, New Princeton, Venator, Diamond, Baker, Malheur City, Ontario, and Nyssa until 2:20 pm. Mountain Standard Time. The following week, highways reopened and closed. The city of Idaho Falls has been combatting heavy snow with plowing schedules. Within minutes, however, the same roads were covered in snow again. 

Along with heavy snow, Eastern Idaho has been affected by high winds and cold temperatures. On December 31st, 2021, The National Weather Service issued another Winter Weather Advisory. As well as a Wind Chill Warning. Temperatures were forecasted to be -10 degrees over the Holliday weekend. Along with an Avalanche Warning at 6:30 MST. This statement remained in effect until New Years Day. To view a full list of watches, advisories, and warnings, go to alerts.weather.gov and search for your location by city, state, or zip code.